Why The Philippines?
Tucked off in the far south eastern corner of Asia is an archipelago of islands that numbers 7107 in total. Palm trees, turquoise seas, white sand beaches, and sunshine are all in abundance, and the climate is that unbeatable tropical warmth found in places like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. If you took a boat straight east for about 3 days from Koh Phangan in Thailand, you would be in amongst the scattered islands that make up the Philippines. What separates the Philippines from other pleasurable destinations in the world though is that tourists and travellers are yet to penetrate beyond the surface level of this country. There are certain locations where tourist industries have been set up, but there is still SO MUCH to be explored and discovered. Taking boat rides in the Philippines brings you back to what the Magellan’s and Columbus’ would have felt exploring a great new frontier that sparkled with beauty. Free & Easy is proud to have taken that role as explorer and created a 40-day route through this country that is packed with epic moments from start to finish.
In a recent world study that compared the overall happiness of the people in a nation, the Filipino people came out on top – the ‘Happiest Country in the World’. That is not to say everyone is always happy, but the Filipino approach to life has an enormous emphasis on enjoyment, and when faced with frustration or hardship they quite easily slouch it off and put a smile on. Everywhere you travel in the Philippines, you are greeted with ‘hellos!!’ and ‘what’s your name?’ by passersby that are curious and excited to see a foreign face in their community. You feel welcome and safe, and can focus on just enjoying their incredible country. Since English is also widely spoken, it is easy to communicate with Filipinos and find yourself in meaningful conversations where you can learn more about their lives.
